USD Moves to 6-1 With 38-17 Victory

SAN DIEGO —  Records were approached, and records fell. But when all was said and done, the only record that mattered to the University of San Diego concerned victories and defeats.

By whipping La Verne, 38-17, Saturday night, USD became 6-1.

That mark, USD’s best since 1981, keeps alive its NCAA Division III playoff hopes. La Verne is 1-5.

And now for the other records:

Dave Bergmann set a single-season record by kicking his 12th field goal this fall. Robert Lozzi had held the record, kicking 11 in both 1981 and ’82.

La Verne, trying desperately to catch the Toreros, completed 28 passes and attempted 56. Both were the most ever against a USD team.

But the record the crowd of 2,947 wanted to see fall most was the USD career rushing record. With 160 yards on 25 carries, Todd Jackson nearly set the yardage mark.

Playing sparingly in the second half after gaining 102 in the first, Jackson, a senior fullback, needs just 31 yards to become USD’s all-time leading rusher. “I was tempted to let him go for the record,” USD Coach Brian Fogarty said. “But he’ll get it next week against Santa Barbara.”

Jackson’s chase and the other records became the only point of interest after USD built a 38-10 lead midway through the third quarter.

Two minutes into the second half, quarterback Brendan Murphy connected with Zach Fielder on a 17-yard scoring pass. Eight minutes later, Charles Taumoepeau, Jackson’s replacement, scored on a 14-yard run.

After the first 30 minutes, USD held a 24-10 lead.

The Toreros scored on their first possession after La Verne was stopped in three plays following the opening kickoff.

John Eck ran in a 15-yard sweep to cap a four-play, 32-yard drive after Greg Frinell’s 19-yard punt return.

After a 43-yard field goal by La Verne’s Vince Alamillo, USD scored on its next play from scrimmage.

Eck, who was an all-state quarterback at Carson High in Nevada before switching to halfback at USD, hit a wide-open Mike Hintze on a halfback pass for a 72-yard touchdown.

It was Eck’s second completion in as many attempts this season. He connected with Ken Jones for a 21-yarder against Redlands earlier in the year.

Bergmann’s first field goal from 28 yards gave him the record and USD a 17-3 lead.

With 3:34 left in the half, La Verne marched down the field, gaining 72 yards in nine plays in 4:38 to make a ballgame of it at 17-10.

But the Toreros and Jackson were not through for the half. On USD’s next possession, Jackson carried four times for 53 yards, including an 18-yarder for the score.